Self-cleaning strainer for spraying-machines.



PATEN'IED APR. 23, 1907.

J. D. WALLACEl SELF CLEANING STRAINER FOR SPRAYINC MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18.1906.

a. 2 Y m N m Fig JOSEPH D. WALLACE, OF CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.

SELF-CLEANING STRAIN'ER FOR SPRAYlNG-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern.;

Ieit known that I, JOSEPH D. WALLACE, a cltizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Champaign, county of Champaign,

and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Cleaning Strainers for Spraying-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification. A

kThis invention relates' to devices for preventing the clogging of nozzles in sprayers or atomizers, having particularly in mind a self.- cleaning device `for the protection of nozzles 1n :what are known as portable spraying machines, such as are employed for the application `of various kinds of liquid` insecticides to trees, plants, shrubs and the like, in orchards, gardens, fields, parks and boulevards. It lis `well known that these liquid compounds almost invariably contain a sediment whichtends,in use, to clog the nozzle and the valves employed, to the ultimate point of completely stopping the flow therethrough. ItI has been the practice, in some cases, to employ at a proper point in the supply duct or conduit, a percolator or strainer, for` the purpose of interce ting or arresting all except the very smal particles of solid matter. These ercolators or strainers themselves become oul or cloggedin time and it is necessary to thoroughly clean them from time to time. otherways, by changing the direction of the Y flow of water or other liquid through said strainer, which serves to wash away all solid matter, which may, in some suitable manner, be discharged upon the ground. Heretofore, this cleaning operation has required a rather complicated system of valves, and devices of this class have on that account been, comparatively, both complicated and expensive.

The principal object of the presentinvention is to simplify the construction of devices of this character, and, in general, to produce a self-cleaning nozzle protector which will not only be simple in construction, but easily, quicklyand conveniently operated, effective in results, and 'comparatively cheap in cost. My invention will be more readily u'nderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical, central, sectional elevation, of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the material parts thereof with the controlling valve in a different position of adjustment.

Specicaton of Letters Patent. Application filed April18,1 906. SerielNo. 312,386.

vthe pipe-ends and to each other.

This' has been accomplished, amongA Patented April 23, 1907.

Referring now to the drawings in'detail,l

numeral 3 refers to the main supply conduit or pipe, leading from' the reservoir (not shown) within which a liquid to be sprayed is confined under pressure. The pipe 3 terminates in a valve 4 controlling the flow to` -and through the passages in the two branch pipes 5k an `6. The pipe 6 is properly aA continuation of the main supply pipe 3, and is joined to its extension 7 by a union comprismg the two parts 8 and '9, screw-threaded to struction permits of the insertion of a removable strainer or percolator 10, which is firmly held between the two parts 8 and 9 of the union. With thevalve 4 open, as shown in Fig. 1, the liquid will pass from the pipe 3 into the pipe 6, and up through the strainer 10, the pipe 7, and the T-iitting 11 to the hose-plugs 12 12, iinal discharge being controlled by astop-cock 13.

The pipe 5 is the irstof a series of common and well known pipe iittings, the last being the section 1,4 leading into' the T-branch 11, which provides a shunt conduit around the strainer 10.

This con- The valve 4 is ofv rotary type and comprises in addition to the usual two-Way plugL 15, rotated by the usual lever 16, a side'opening 17, to which may be fitted any desired form of iinal discharge pipe, such as the short section 18. The plug 15 is provided, in addition to the two-way valve passage 19, with the passage 20. When the plug 15 is 1n the position indicated in Fig. 1, there is open communication from the pipe 3 to the pipe 6, and thence through the strainer 10 to the hose-plugs 12 and on to the spraying nozzles (not shown). Upon a quarter turn of the cock, as shown in Fig. 2, communication is o ened from the pipe 3 to the pipe 5, while t e pipe 6 is closed, so far as direct discharge from the pipe 3 is concerned, but o ened, through the passage 20, to the side opening 17.

It will be apparent that when the device is in use, and the valve-plug 15 in the position indicated in Fig. 1, the liquid from the supply pipe 3 will pass uninterruptedly throuffh the pipe 6 and the strainer 10 to the nozz es, as shown by the arrows. When the strainer becomes foul or clogged, and it is desired to clean the same, the o erator gives the lever 16 operating the va ve-plug 15 a quarter turn, which closes the passa e to the pipe, directing the liquid around t 1e loop and in a reverse direction` through the strainer 10,

IOO

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carrying with it all sediment and solid matter whichhas accumulated on the under side of said strainer, and out through the passage 2O and the side opening 17 of the valve 4,

5 Jfrom thence it is discharged upon the ground.

Not only is there required but a single operation of movement to manipulate the valve 4 and clean the strainer, but the cleaning operation itself requires but a moment of time, the liquid being under. full pressure. And not only is the operation short, thorough and effective, but the device itself may be located Within easy reach of the operator or driver of the spraying machine-if applied to a device of this character.

Many modiiications of minor details of my improved nozzle protector Will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it a pertains, and I therefore do not desire to imit my invention to the specific construction herein shpwnand described.

A Having -thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to Patent: v 1. A self-cleaning strainingA device for spraying machines comprising a pipe'having two reunited branches, one thereof being,

normally closed and the other provided with a strainer and a normally ,closed vent on the pressure side of said strainer, and means for simultaneously closing said last-mentioned branch and opening said irst-mentioned branch and said vent. i t A 2. In a self-cleaning straining device for `spraying machines, the combination, With a pipev having two reunited branches, one

secure by Letters thereof being provided With means for straining a liquid passing therethrough and a normally closed vent on the ressure side of said straining means, of a va ve normally directing the entire flow through said strainingA branchand operable to direct `the entire flow through the other branch and open said vent. 3. A self-cleaning straining device for s raying machines comprising a main con#l through and a normally closed vent on the pressure side of said straining means, of a normally closed shunt conduit around said straining meansand communicating at each end with said main conduit, and a valve at the branch of said main and shunt conduits adapted at one operation to close lsaid main 'conduit and open said shunt conduit and said vent.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to the foregoing specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. l e JOSEPH D.,WALLACE.

Witnesses:

H. C. SIELGBUsoH,

E. JoHNsoN. 

